Comb case



31 f3, 1941- P. J. LYNN 2,242,134

COMB CASE Filed April 19, 1940 .Zhueri/or MR): .Iakn lyrm,

Patented May 13, 1941 UNITED in S ATENT OFFICE Application April 19, 1940, Serial No. 330,633 In Great Britain August 21, 1939 6 Claims.

This invention relates to cases in which combs may be carried or stored without risk of breakage and has for its object not only to protect the comb from dirt but also to enable the comb to be cleaned automatically by the act of extracting it from the case.

According to the present invention a comb case comprises two side-pieces hinged together along one longer edge so as to be capable of accommodating the tooth portion of a-comb therebetween, and furnished on their adjacent sides with a strip of bristles arranged parallel to, and near, the free edges of said side-pieces soas to be capable of engagement with the teeth of the comb.

Preferably the strips of bristles are mounted upon separate backing plates attached to the adjacent side-pieces, which backing plates may engage with bent-over marginal portions of said side-pieces.

If desired, the strips of bristles may comprise series of tufts each consisting of a row of bristles arranged obliquely with respect to the length of the strip, and the rows of bristles of the one strip being oppositely inclined to those of the other strip when the case is closed, those ends of the rows of bristles of the one strip which are nearer the hinge oi the case preferably registering with the corresponding ends of the rows of the other strip when the case is closed, whilst the opposite ends of the rows interdigitate.

The invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawing of which Figure 1 is a plan of a comb-case opened out, Figure 2 is an end elevation, partly in section, and to an enlarged scale, showing the device closed and with a comb in position, Figure 3 is a sectional end elevation corresponding to Figure 2 but with the case partly open, Figure 4 shows a bristle retainer, Figures 5, 6, '7 & 8 illustrate the use of the retainer shown in Figure 4, whilst Figure 9 is a diagram illustrating to an enlarged scale, the relative positions of the tufts of bristles when in place.

As shown in the drawing, Figures 1, 2 & 3, a comb case has two side pieces l6, II, hinged together along one longer edge as at I 2, the dimensions and configuration of said side pieces depending upon those of the comb with which the case is to be used. Each of the side pieces I!) & II, which may be formed of sheet metal or other suitable material and be ornamented externally as desired, has its marginal portion bent over, as at l3, along that edge remote from the hinge |2 so as to be capable of receiving and engaging with the corresponding edge of one of a pair of backing plates l4, l5, which are hinged at l2 about the same axis as that of the side pieces ID 8; II, and which are substantially co-extensive with said side pieces.

The side pieces l0 8; II are formed with wings l6, ll, at each end so that, when the case is closed, said wings overlap and constitute closures for the ends of the case.

Near their free edges, the backing plates |4 & l5 are each formed with a row of oblong apertures such as l8, l9, each of which has a narrow slot 29 at each end. Each aperture l t or l9, serves to accommodate a tuft of bristles such as 2 I, secured therein by means such as will now be described with reference to Figures 4, 5, 6, 7 & 8.

Figure 4 shows a bristle retainer constituted by an H-shapedstamping of sheet metal or the like, the uprights 22 and cross-bar 23 of which are equal in width to the length of a slot 2|, and the length of the cross-bar 23 is equal in length to an aperture H3 or l9, whilst the thickness of the stamping is nearly equal to half the width of one of said slots 2|.

For use, the stamping is first folded about the centre line of its cross-bar 23 into the form shown in Figures 5 & 6, the major end portions of the uprights 22 becoming superposed to constitute legs. Strips of bristles 2| are laid across the folded cross-bar 23 between the legs 22 and the latter are inserted into the slots 20 as shown in Figure 7, whereupon the two parts of each leg 22 are separated and bent back again into line with one another behind the backing plate as shown in Figure 8, so as to leave the bristles 2| projecting from the front of said plate.

When the case is assembled, the spread-out legs 22 lie between the adjacent faces of their backing plates M, I5, and the bristle tufts 2| are thereby retained securely in position.

The apertures l8 & IQ of each series are parallel, and are arranged obliquely with respect to the axis of the hinge l2, the arrangement being such that, when the case is closed, the directions of the apertures of the two sets intersect as shown in Figure 9, those ends of the apertures nearer the hinge |2 being in substantial registration with one another whilst the opposite ends interdigitate.

Between the outer edges of each strip of bristles 2| and the adjacent bent-over edge l3 of the side piece I 0 or H (as the case may be) a strip 24 of india rubber or the like is secured to the surface I of the backing plate M or |5 (as the case may be), said strip 24 serving to prevent contact between the comb and said edge, and to wipe from the I comb any grease or surface moisture which may be thereon.

A comb, such as 25 (Figure 2), may be inserted into the case with the latter slightly open so that, when the case is closed again, the bristles 2| of the two opposite rows enter and overlap between the teeth of the comb, and the rubber strips 24 contact with the sides of the comb near the roots of the teeth.

If desired, the comb 25 may be formed, or provided, with a back 26 of similar material to the side plates Ill, H, and may be ornamented or otherwise treated so as to match the case.

The provision of a back such as 26 also facilitates the withdrawal of the comb from the case.

When required for use, the comb may be extracted from the closed case by pulling it straight out, during which process the bristles brush away any dirt which may have been lodged between the teeth.

As all parts of the comb case are capable of assembly without the use of any adhesive or other soluble substance, the case may readily be cleaned and sterilized.

Although the comb case as described above is constructed from sheet metal, or similar material, it is to be understood that each side may be formed integrally with its backing plate from a mouldable plastic or like substance, the bristles being mounted therein by any suitable means.

Also, the side pieces may, if desired, be constrained together by means of a spring in known manner.

I claim:

1. A comb case composed of a pair of hingedly connected members, a strip of bristles carried by each of the members, the strips each having sets of tufts, a clip formed from an H-shaped member having its legs folded about the cross bar of the H to form a U, the tufts being bent over the cross bar centrally of their lengths, a slotted backing plate for each of the members through which the legs of the U and the bent over parts of the tufts are passed and the legs of the U bent outwardly in opposite directions so as to hold the legs by and between the backing plates and the respective members.

2. A comb case in accordance with claim 1, wherein the series of tufts each consists of a row of bristles disposed obliquely with respect to the longitudinal axes of the strip, the rows of one strip being oppositely inclined to the rows of the other strip when the case is closed.

3. A comb case composed of a pair of hingedly connected members, a strip of bristles carried by each of the members, said strips each having rows of tufts arranged obliquely with respect to the length of the strip and the rows of one strip being oppositely inclined with respect to those of the other strip when the case is closed, the ends of the rows of one strip which are next adjacent the hinge of the case being in registry with the corresponding ends of the rows of the other strip, and the opposite ends of the rows interdigitating when the case is closed.

4. A comb case composed of two members, means to hingedly connect said members along one of their side edges, bristle carrying plates, means on one of the side edges of the plates to hingedly connect same to the hinge of the members, and the opposite side edges of the members having portions turned over the opposite side edges of the plates whereby the latter are held by and between the turned over portions and the hinge.

5. A comb case in accordance with claim 4, wherein a yieldable strip is secured to the inner face of each of the plates and which abuts the edges of the turned over portions of the members to prevent contact between the comb and said edges, and to also serve as a wiper for the comb.

6. A comb case composed of a pair of hingedly connected members, a strip of bristles carried by each of the members, the strips each having sets of tufts, each set consisting of bristles arranged in rows disposed obliquely with respect to the longitudinal axes of the strips whereby the rows of one strip are oppositely inclined to the rows of the other strip when the case is closed, and means to secure the strips to the respective members.

PERCY JOHN LYNN. 

